Hold Control, then tap a blue key. Control is not drawn here.
The big ideaA shortcut is two or three keys pressed together. Use only the ones you know.
How it works
A shortcut is two or three keys pressed together, like a secret handshake.
Hold the first key, usually Control, tap the second, then let go of both.
Some shortcuts do big jobs, like closing a program. Only press the ones you know, and ask a grown-up first about the big ones.
You do not have to remember them all, because a menu shows the shortcut beside each job.
How to press a shortcut.
Example 1: Copy and paste
Select the line.
Hold Control and tap the C key to copy.
Click the spot, then hold Control and tap the V key to paste.
Example 2: More shortcuts you know
Cut is Control and the X key.
Undo is Control and the Z key.
Select all is Control and the A key.
Save is Control and the S key.
Find is Control and the F key.
Z undoes, S saves and F finds, with Control.
Example 3: Safe, or ask first?
Copy only makes a copy, so it is safe to try.
Undo only takes back a step, so it is safe to try.
A shortcut that closes a program, deletes a file for good or turns the computer off does a big job.
For those, ask a grown-up first.
Example 4: You forgot one
Open a menu in the program.
Look beside the job you want, for example Copy.
The shortcut is written there. No need to mash keys.
Words to know
shortcut
Two or three keys pressed together to do a job quickly.
Control
The key you hold for most shortcuts, on most keyboards.
menu
A list of jobs, with the shortcut shown beside each one.
Watch out
Mashing keys together at random can close a program. Look in the menu instead.
Shortcuts are not the same on every computer, and they change between programs.
If a shortcut fails on another computer, ask a grown-up which key does the Control job there.
A page that you saved is safe even if a window closes.
Try it
How do you press a shortcut?
Which key goes with Control to copy?
You forgot a shortcut. Where do you look?
A shortcut closes the program. Is it safe to try on your own?
Answers: 1. Hold the first key, tap the second, and let go of both · 2. The C key · 3. In the menu · 4. No, ask a grown-up first
Try at homeAt the computer with a grown-up: open any menu in a program and find the shortcut written beside Copy. Select a word in a note, then copy and paste it using only the keys. Ask your grown-up which key does the Control job on your computer.
For grown-upsOpen any menu in a program with your child and find the shortcut written beside Copy, then let them copy and paste a word with only the keys; tell them which key does the Control job on your computer, since it can differ.
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